Kalmadi drops plea to attend parliament

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Former Commonwealth Games (CWG) Organising Committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, who is in judicial custody in a corruption case, Thursday withdrew his application seeking permission from a Delhi court to attend the monsoon session of parliament starting Aug 1.

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special judge Talwant Singh allowed Kalmadi’s plea and permitted him to withdraw the application. The court granted him the liberty to move to the Delhi High Court for it.

Kalmadi earlier underwent a brain scan at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here. He dismissed reports that he was suffering from dementia, saying he was “perfectly all right”.

Speaking to reporters, Kalmadi said: “The problem is with my heart only…my mind and brain are okay, and whatever they (media) are saying, it’s not a fact…remember everything.”

“I am perfectly all right, all that you are reading outside is wrong…I’ve come for my routine check-up,” said Kalmadi, who has been lodged in the Tihar Jail. During the submission before the special court, Kalmadi’s counsel said: “It requires direction to be issued to the ministry of home affairs so we will have to file it in the high court.”

Kalmadi July 23 sought permission to attend parliament and told the court that there was no apprehension of his absconding.

Kalmadi was arrested April 25. The CBI May 20 filed its first charge sheet in the corruption case against Kalmadi and 10 others.

The probe agency has described Kalmadi, as the prime accused in the case related to financial irregularities in awarding a Rs.141 crore contract for timing, scoring and result system for the October 2010 sporting event.